Don Gallagher takes Irene Thomas for a fast ride in a jitterbug number as they
prepare for the contest. More than 200 couples including rug cutters, jive artists,
rhumba and conga dancers are expected to compete. Photo dated: February 25,
1941. Los Angeles Herald Examiner

It's been over three years since we did our last Taste of Dance. So mark your calendars for this one!

How many times have you had to leave the dance floor when a
Mambo came on? How many times have you dreamed of dancing with that great Salsa dancer?
What about those fabulous Lindy Hop character steps, such as the Minne Dip, Johnnie's Drop,
Groucho? Do you leave the floor when everyone else runs on to do the Shim Sham? Well, here it
is -- A Taste of Dance! One full day dedicated to getting you on the dance floor all night. Weíre
offering 50-minute classes in a wonderful array of dances from which to choose. Take the entire
day, or just sample four of your choice, or maybe there's one or two for which you've got time.
it's up to you. All we ask is that you ENJOY! And feast to your heart's content!

You can read more about this workshop and even register on line by clicking HERE

* * * * LINDY BY THE SEA * * * *

Classes got off to a great start. Loads of new beginners, and the biggest Featured Class and Level Four class in over two years (and who says swing is dead???). Remember, you can still join our Sunday and Monday series next week!

TUESDAY CLASSES: The NEW Tuesday series begins next week -- March 11th.

Rusty Frank and Chester Whitmore, who have been tap dancing together for over ten years, will make a rare appearance at Maxwell's at the Argyle next Monday, March 10th. If you've never been to this snappy night spot, you'll be delighted. Come along and cheer her on after Monday night Lindy By the Sea classes, and have yourself a great time. The band? None other than Chester Whitmore's Central Avenue Revue -- perfect for practicing your Lindy Hop, Balboa, and Collegiate Shag! For more information on the event, click HERE

* * * * EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTIONS * * * *

GANG GOES TO "SWING"

With tickets donated by The Easy Reader, Rusty was able to take her Rhythm Pals and the Rhythm Wives (Ron & Robin, Gio and Mae-Lei), and volunteers Glenn Parkison and Jessica Densmore, and super supporters Michael D'Angelo and Cherly Herbst out for a night on the town to see the hit show "Swing" at the Wilshire Theatre last Thursday. And what a time was had. We danced everywhere... in the lobby, in the theatre, and in Johnny Rockets at the end of the evening. And the show was pretty good, too!

RUSTY GETS A NEW CAMERA -- ENJOY!
It's the Canon Elph and takes short videos, too

Click
HERE
to see video of dancing in the lobby of the Wilshire Theatre.

Gosh, where do we begin? It was simply a night for the books. We can't remember if it was a dream or reality. If it were a dream, it would all make sense. If it was reality, how can we explain that in the year 2003, Rusty had a party with 240 swing dancers, the Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra, performances by the Jitterbugs, guest movie stars from the past (Fayard Nicholas, Miriam Nelson, Jean Veloz), the fabulous Maxwell DeMille? But since all 240 of us remember the night, it must have been a reality. Most of us who were in attendence are still floating five feet above the ground.

Special thanks to the following people, without whom this night never could have happened:

Rusty and her tap Rhythm Pal, Gregory Gast, made their Derby debut last Saturday, singing and tap dancing along with the Hollywood Combo. The room was packed with loads of swing friends, cheering the duo on. After their first number, they came right back and did an impromptu jam session with the band to the delight of the crowd. Watch for more appearances of Rusty & Greg -- perhaps March 26th at the Rhythm Club????

PRIVATES WITH RUSTY

If any of you would like to have a private swing dance lesson, give Rusty a call at 310.606.5606.(Photo: David Saffir)

* * * * LINK OF THE WEEK * * * *

TOO DEAD TO SWING Any mystery lovers out there? Well, here's a fun site for you. One of Rusty's ol' pals from the Bay Area, Hal Glatzer, is a myster writer. So what's the tie-in with Swing? His work! Check this out: One of his works is an audio play called "Too Dead To Swing", and the other work is a book with the same name. Glatzer, a swing dancer and musician himself, also has a fun site to wander around. Enjoy... but be careful!!!!! (scary laugh inserted here)

By the way, there is a lot of fun stuff that Hal has up on his site, including quotes like this ( Tommy Dorsey to Look magazine in February 1940):

"The jitterbug isn't the wacky kid
he's painted to be. He may
Shag all over the place to a hot
number, but he gets just as
much enjoyment from a ballad.
There's no more shame in the
Shag or Lindy of today than
there was in grandma's waltz.
The younger set has become
musically smart, and knows
when something is good. And
when it's good, they let you know
it. They shout with joy; they yell
approval of a soloist's fast licks.
The dictionary defines jitters as
'extreme nervousness,' and a
jitterbug is a person who,
hearing the right kind of music, becomes so nervous that he or she can't help dancing it out of his
system."

*Wondering what the heck a "gate" is? This was a phrase popularized by 1940's comedian, Jerry Colonna, who would holler it out every time he was introduced on the Bob Hope radio program. It was a friendly salutation to a swing cat (dancer or swing music enthusiast).